The ShakeAlert system, which has been in place in California since October 2019, uses a network of sensors that detect the onset of a major earthquake, calculate the strength and location of the quake, and then send the information to dealers, who send the information to cell phones and cell phones send online.
An attempt to give Oregonians and those in other West Coast states a few precious seconds of warning after a major earthquake but before the tremors can be felt will be rolled out on Thursday.
The ShakeAlert system, which has been in place in California since October 2019, uses a network of sensors that detect the onset of a major earthquake, calculate the strength and location of the quake, and then send the information to dealers, who send the information to cell phones and cell phones send online.
The system is expected to be rolled out in Washington in May.
“This amazing technology could provide valuable seconds or tens of seconds before an earthquake, and not only mitigate loss of life by giving people shelter, but also help them respond more effectively,” said Andrew Phelps, director of the Oregon Office of Emergency Management. “The ability of first responders to take protective measures for themselves and their equipment means more resources to help the Oregonians once the shaking stops.”
These few seconds are enough to gain time for critical infrastructures – power plants, water filter systems, etc. – to trigger automatic water valve shutdowns, start emergency power generators and much more.
The system is operated by the US Geological Survey.
The Oregon Office of Emergency Management has provided the following information to ensure your mobile device can receive notifications:
Apple iPhones:
– Tap on “Settings”> “Notifications”.
– Scroll to the bottom of the screen.
– Under Government Alerts, tap Emergency Alerts and Public Safety Alerts to toggle them on or off.
– When emergency alarms are activated, the circle is on the right side of the switch. No further action is required.
– When emergency alarms are disabled, the circle is on the left side of the switch. You need to tap the switch to turn it on.
Please watch a video that demonstrates this on an iPhone
Android phones (the exact location of the options to enable emergency notifications may vary):
– We recommend that you use the “Settings” search function to find “Emergency Alerts” or “Public Safety Messages”.
– If you can’t find Emergency Notifications by searching for Settings, it may be in your messaging app instead.
– Make sure that all alerts are turned on (for example, Extreme Threats, Serious Threats, and Public Safety Messages). When warnings are enabled, the circle is on the right side of the switch. Further action is required.
– When warnings are disabled, the circle is on the left side of the switch. You need to tap the switch to turn it on
– For more information, see the website of your mobile operator and / or mobile phone manufacturer.
– In 2020, Google released an earthquake alert feature powered by ShakeAlert. This service is only available on wireless devices using the Android operating system.
For more information on how to deal with an earthquake, see the OEM website.
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